Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made quite a statement in his NFL debut, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a preseason win over the Carolina Panthers on Friday.
The Browns currently have six quarterbacks on their roster and are searching for their starter for the 2025 season.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter provided an update on the Browns quarterback competition Saturday night on SportsCenter. According to Schefter, Shedeur Sanders put himself squarely in the mix with his performance against the Panthers.
“It’s crowded and it’s injured, and that’s why Shedeur Sanders got the opportunity that he did on Friday night to play as long as he did,” Schefter said. “Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel have been dealing with hamstring injuries, and Shedeur Sanders came out and did exactly what he needed to do. He played 45 snaps and he played well.”
In addition to Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders, the Browns also have veterans Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson and Tyler Huntley on their roster, although Watson is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last season.
With Pickett, Gabriel and Watson sidelined and Flacco entering his 18th season in the NFL, the Browns only played Sanders and Huntley at quarterback against the Panthers.
Sanders certainly looked the part of an NFL quarterback in his preseason debut, and he should get more opportunities to show what he can do in preseason games against the Eagles and Rams later this month.
“He wasn’t satisfied with the performance, but it was hard not to watch him and feel like he couldn’t start at the NFL level. He shined,” Schefter said. “He’ll have the chance to continue that in the preseason. And if he plays at the level that he did Friday night, it’s going to be very difficult for the Cleveland Browns to keep him off the field over the course of the season.”
Shedeur Sanders was the most talked about player ahead of and throughout the NFL Draft as he was projected to be selected in the first round, before slipping to the fifth.
NFL analysts, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., were baffled by Sanders’ fall in the draft.
It’s obviously still very early on in his NFL career, but Sanders certainly looked capable of playing quarterback at a high level on Friday.
Sanders tossed a pair of touchdown passes to receiver Kaden Davis in the preseason opener. In addition to his strong passing performance, he also rushed for 19 yards.
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